The best films of Cary Grant: #19 "Arsenic and Old Lace" (1944)

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A comedy about serial killers two of whom are sweet old ladies? That describes the insane farce “Arsenic and Old Lace” directed by the legendary Frank Capra (“It’s a Wonderful Life”). The 1941 play by Joseph Kesselring was an enormous Broadway hit starring Boris Karloff playing a lookalike for Boris Karloff! Screen rights were sold on the stipulation the film version could not be released until the Broadway run concluded. “Arsenic and Old Lace” was filmed in 1942 and sat on the shelf for two years. Karloff did not recreate his Broadway role being contracted to the play. Raymond Massey stepped in. The play was virtually filmed intact except the part of Mortimer (Grant) was beefed up. Mortimer has married the minister’s daughter who lived next door to his crazy aunts. He is shocked to discover a body in the window seat. The two old dears cheerfully explain they bring mercy to lonely old gents with poisoned elderberry wine. The bodies are buried in the cellar by their crazy brother who believes he is Teddy Roosevelt. Then another insane brother arrives having escaped the asylum with a dead body in tow. The comedy is frantic. “Arsenic and Old Lace” was a commercial success as predicted. Grant was not first choice to play Mortimer. Bob Hope was and Paramount would not loan him out. Hope’s comic style of mugging wisecracks would have detracted from the other characters. Grant’s Mortimer is somewhat naive and his approach was subtle bewildered slapstick. The star was content for his fellow actors to shine and dominate.